Category Archives: Philadelphia

Last night, we in Philly heard that hundreds of headstones were turned over Saturday night at a Jewish cemetery, a week after similar vandalism in St. Louis. Many people are saddened, appalled and surprised. They should be sad and appalled, but not surprised. This is Trump’s America.

I have been working with Indivisible locally, and I am heartened by the number of people completely new to politics who are suddenly aware, and ready to take action to both resist the Trump agenda, and help elect people who will serve America, and not what is actually the Bannon administration.

I keep hearing two themes through my work with Indivisible. First, people are concerned about what they can do to stop hate. And by “hate” I mean not just the vandalism, but the verbal abuse people see foisted upon innocent people, just for the colour of their skin, The ICE roundups are another form of hate: people question what they can do to help those who will be caught up in the dragnets. Hate also in the form of the administration’s moves against sick people (“repeal Obamacare” and dismantle Medicaid), Hate in the form of transgender bathroom rights. I’m a doctor, and I’m telling you, the only thing that matters is that you wash your hands. (If you’re a long-term reader, you remember back to SARS and fingers, nails, fingers, fingers, fingers.) And let’s not forget the hate of literacy in terms of claiming the media is the “enemy of the people”. The hate is creeping down from the Cheeto Team, and up from the GOP state legislatures.Continue Reading...

It was an packed night last night. The Convention was bursting from the seams with Democrats eager to salute the Party’s top elected officials – Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama. We also got a first hand look at Hillary Clinton’s pick for Vice President, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. There’s a lot to cover on all fronts, so here is your DNC Day 3 dispatch:

PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the program for the final day of the Democratic National Convention being held in Philadelphia from July 25 to July 28. The night will end with Hillary Clinton’s acceptance of the Democratic Party’s nomination.

In Philadelphia, Democrats have laid out the clear stakes in this election – a choice between building walls and tearing people down or an optimistic unifying vision where we are stronger together and everyone has a role to play in building our future.
The program is listed below:

PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the program for the third day of the Democratic National Convention being held in Philadelphia fromJuly 25 to July 28.

In Philadelphia, Democrats are laying out the clear stakes in this election – a choice between building walls and tearing people down or an optimistic unifying vision where everyone has a role to play in building our future.

On Wednesday night, speakers will discuss how Hillary Clinton has the experience and steadiness to bring Americans together to get real results for our families. Her strong leadership will deliver economic results for all Americans and keep us safe. While Donald Trump is in over his head and reckless, Hillary can provide the leadership we need for the country we want to be.

Jamie’s husband was Patrick Dorff, an Army helicopter pilot from Minnesota who died while on a search and rescue mission in northern Iraq. As a senator, Hillary worked with Republicans and Democrats to increase the gratuity paid to family members of fallen veterans from $12,000 to $100,000.

Remarks
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan

Remarks
Former Governor of Maryland Martin O’Malley

Introduction of Film
Actress Sigourney Weaver

Remarks
California Governor Jerry Brown

Remarks
Director Lee Daniels

Remarks
Christine Leinonen, Brandon Wolf and Jose Arraigada

Christine Leinonen is the mother of Christopher “Drew” Leinonen, who was killed in the Pulse attack in Orlando. Brandon Wolf and Jose Arraigada are survivors of the attack at the nightclub in Orlando.

Remarks
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (Connecticut)

Remarks
Erica Smegielski

Erica’s mother Dawn was the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary and was killed while trying to protect her students. Since then, Erica has become an outspoken advocate for commonsense gun violence prevention measures.

Remarks
Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey

Remarks
Actress Angela Bassett

Remarks
Felicia Sanders & Polly Sheppard

Felicia and Polly are two of the three survivors of the Mother Emanuel Church shooting in Charleston, SC.

Remarks
Gabby Giffords & Mark Kelly

Musical Performance

Remarks
Rear Admiral John Hutson (Ret. USN)

Remarks
Kristen Kavanaugh

Kristen Kavanaugh is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a former Marine Corps Captain who deployed to Iraq. She later co-founded the Military Acceptance Project, a California-based social justice organization dedicated to promoting acceptance of marginalized populations within the military.

Remarks
Former Congressman and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta

Remarks
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio)

Introduction of Speaker
Dr. Jill Biden

Remarks
Vice President Joe Biden

Remarks
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Remarks
Michael Bloomberg

Musical Performance
Lenny Kravitz

10:00 – 11:00 PM (EDT)

Remarks
Democratic Nominee for Vice President Tim Kaine

Introduction of Film
Sharon Belkofer

Sharon Belkofer is the mother of fallen Lt. Col. Thomas Belkofer. Her son was killed when a suicide bomber detonated a minibus in a convoy carrying Belkofer and three other high-ranking officers in Kabul, Afghanistan.

What’s done is done and our 2016 presidential race officially has nominees from the two major US political parties! In a history-making moment, the Democratic Party has nominated it’s first female candidate for President last night. Here’s your DNC Day 2 Daily Dispatch!

Arab Americans at the Convention

Our block party – Ahlan Wa Sahlan Philly! – was a huge success! We had music, dabke, food, hookah, some stand up comedy, and a ton of fun saluting the nominee! Check out some early pictures and stay tune for our wrap up of all that went down.

AAIF hosted a luncheon for the nearly 50 Arab American delegates that are in Philadelphia – along with the many more on staff with the DNC, this year we have one of the largest Arab American contingent in our history! Senator Debbie Stabenow, Representative Debbie Dingell, and Billy Shaheen joined us for delicious food and to hear the stories of how and why Arab Americans have gotten involved in the political process.

I attended two terrific events yesterday. A Taste of Emerge was an introduction from the group Emerge, which trains women to run for office. The Future of Healthcare was a panel discussion. They are each detailed below. After those events, At the end of the second event came the high point of my experience of this convention. A compliment I will not soon forget.

I dropped by the Progressive Democrats of America location: a place to stop and recharge and be amoungst (in my case) like-minded people. I was then walking back to the next event, when the collision occurred. The sidewalk was narrow and filled with people. The street was blocked with orange barriers as there was construction. I saw him coming. A big guy. I tried to get out of his way, but there was nowhere to go. He knocked me into the orange barrier, and the brunt was taken by my bad knee. He was playing Pokémon Go. He never saw me, although a couple nearby people yelled at him, then stopped him, and he picked me up. My first thought was that those barriers are a lot sturdier then they look.

Day 1 started with the news that Debbie Wasserman Shultz was booed by her own delegation at the Florida breakfast.. Not dissuaded, I tried to take SEPTA into Philadelphia but due to the heat, there were long delays (beyond the already abbreviated schedule) and so I too my very first Uber ride. It was delightful.

The logistics of the Philly convention are somewhat challenging. The day starts for all of the delegates at 7 a.m. when they need to pick up their credentials for the day at their hotels, some of which are 30 miles from the city. For the rest of us needing daily credentials, the day starts at the Philadelphia Convention Center (PCC), People milling about, attending meetings, caucuses and trainings.

The first person I met was a Hillary delegate from North Carolina, Ralph Rodland. We had a fantastic chat about HB1, and his belief that Pat McCrory’s days are numbered. He’s thrilled to be here as a Hillary delegate. He did ask whether it was always this hot here in Philly, since it’s actually cooler and less humid back home in North Carolina right now.Continue Reading...

PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the program for the opening day of the Democratic National Convention being held in Philadelphia from July 25 to July 28. Additional speakers will continue to be announced throughout the convention. In Philadelphia, Democrats are preparing to lay out the clear stakes in this election – a choice between building walls and tearing people down or an optimistic unifying vision where everyone has a role to play in building our future.

Monday will focus on putting the future of American families front and center and how we’re stronger together when we build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top and when everyone has a chance to live up to their God-given potential.

PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Convention Committee today announced leaders from across the country who will serve as officers for the convention.

In Philadelphia, Democrats will lay out the clear stakes in this election – a choice between building walls and tearing people down or an optimistic unifying vision where everyone has a role to play in building our future.